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JVP Politburo member and MP Nandana Gunathileke issuing a press release has urged the United National Front government to step in and immediately put a halt to the escalating instances of election related violence.

Gunathileke has said that if the government fails to arrest this trend forthwith there will be a possibility for the upcoming Local Government Election becoming irrevocably flawed.

The text of the statement:

This year's campaign for the forthcoming Local Government polls got underway with the brutal assault directed at the JVP Laggala Pallegama Provincial Council member by death squads with links to UNP candidates in the area.

The election related violence which began thus has presently escalated to over 20 such instances. This is a grave threat to true democracy in this country and if this is the manner in which the supporter's of the UNP are going to conduct their polls campaign then it will leave much to be desired by the general public.

We of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna is highly alarmed at this increasing instances of election related violence and the open brutality displayed by the party in power has put the issue of democracy at stake.

It is also highly perturbing to note the deafening silence maintained by the government on these attacks directed at opposition party members particularly at a time when they shouted from their rooftops on assuring democracy at any cost during the last general election campaign.

The UNP which earlier showed that much keenness on establishing the independent commissions is currently acting as if though they are least bothered about setting them up.

UNP also displayed their hidden intentions to the masses by transferring as many Police officers as possible even before the polls could be held so that they could rig the hustings as they liked.

All this clearly points to the fact that the outcome of the upcoming Local Government elections could become irrevocably flawed and it will be a great injustice done on behalf of the people if it happens.

JVP takes this opportunity to urge all progressive fronts and civil societies to come forward and ensure a free and fair election whereby the true will of the people could be reflected on the final outcome of the polls.

JVP also would like to urge both Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, and the Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake to also take all necessary measures to guarantee a free and fair election. (JK) 

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